"The Government was criticised by the Great Britain Diving Federation this weekend and thousands of demonstrators campaigned against pool closures as the row over swimming facilities intensified.

Up to 3,000 campaigners took to the streets in Fylde on Saturday in a mass protest to save two swimming pools, in Kirkham and in St Anne's, which are earmarked for closure.

At the same time, in Nottingham, a public meeting and demonstration took place with protesters desperate to save Victoria Baths, in St Ann's, which is classed as one of the most deprived areas of England according to Government statistics."

In a debate on Radio 4, [link] the department claimed that "there are 171 swimming pool complexes in England that have a diving pool that can offer people a good introduction to the sport".

However, this contrasts with Sutcliffe's written reply to a Parliamentary question on Oct 15, in which he states that Sport England's "Active Places database lists 64 diving pools which can be defined as diving pits using the following criteria - an indoor pool specifically for diving which is usually square in shape and deeper than the main pool".

John Whitby, former chief executive and active member of the GBDF, said yesterday: "How can 107 facilities have been missed by both Sport England and the GBDF and 'found' by the DCMS in the last four months? I cannot see how this can have occurred.

(Via Government criticised over diving board plunge - Olympics - Telegraph: .)

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| Diving Boards | 3 March 2008; 12:58:32 PM |# | | Discuss |

A discussion about the parlous state of diving in London and the British Isles took place on You & Yours last week. You can download it HERE.

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| Diving Boards | 3 March 2008; 12:36:58 PM |# | RealPlayerSession20080302193.mp3 7.6MB | Discuss |

It is said young people don't want to do anything, diving boards are too expensive to maintain and no one uses them anyway! And then in yesterday's The London Paper we see this. These young men are jumping off the steps to the Thames on the South Bank when the tide is out! Sand feels just like rock when you hit it, ask any bullet, so we should get them on a board. A few days ago we linked to this piece. Who knows one of these men could be on the platform in 2012 or, without pools with boards, not. ...more ---> ...

| Diving Boards | 30 November 2007; 2:42:39 PM |# | | Discuss |

"Now lets look briefly at the profile of the people who would use diving boards. They are generally young, probably youths between the ages of 10 and 18, quite a few would be male. They like excitement, the adrenaline rush they get from it. They develop self confidence, but also find their limits, often painfully! They often like to show off, especially to their peers or the opposite sex. They learn, they experience, they interact, they also get an appreciation of other people and it is instructive to see the interaction between groups, totally different in age or social profile when they are all together on diving boards.

These young people now have in most instances nowhere to go, the facilities they enjoy and have fun on are for the most part closed or only accessible through paid for lessons which can be prohibitively expensive. So what do they do? Well, alcohol is easily available and at 22p a can very cheap too, groups that would at one time have been in a swimming pool having fun are now excluded as the ‘boards are shut and it’s ‘Adults Only’ in the evening anyway, so they sit together in groups near the pool with cans they have got from a local shop and, after a few drinks try and think of something exciting to do.

Alternatively, they get the equivalent excitement by tombstoning from bridges or cliffs, often after alcohol, and into water with unknown depth and potential obstructions below the surface. In some cases within walking distance of a swimming pool where they are not allowed to use the diving boards because they are a ‘Health and Safety’ issue for the operators."

(Via River and lake swimming: .)

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| Diving Boards | 28 November 2007; 10:42:52 AM |# | | Discuss |

"A diving group is at risk of folding after asbestos found at its training pool forced its closure.

Crystal Palace Diving Institute has lost £30,000 in fees since the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace Park closed on September 14.

The centre was due to close for refurbishment on December 1 until next summer and the institute had contingency plans in place to allow divers to continue their training.

However, the sudden closure has put the institute under threat, as it relies on fees from the 400 youngsters who train there to meet running costs."

(Via Diving Group At Risk Of Going Under (from Croydon Guardian): .)

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| Diving Boards | 24 October 2007; 9:04:35 AM |# | | Discuss |